Highguard review: Apex Legends’ spiritual successor is a few tweaks from greatness

Highguard: A Promising but Flawed Spiritual Successor to Apex Legends

Wildcard Entertainment’s Highguard bursts onto the scene with the promise of being the next big thing in the competitive shooter genre. Developed by Respawn Entertainment veterans, the game draws immediate comparisons to Apex Legends, from its squad-based 3v3 gameplay to its shadow-drop release strategy. But after 15 hours of intense gameplay, it’s clear that Highguard is a diamond in the rough—brilliant in its core mechanics but marred by repetitive gameplay and balance issues that prevent it from reaching Apex’s legendary status.

The Core Experience: A Shooter’s Dream

At its heart, Highguard is a fantastic shooter. The gunplay is crisp, the movement is fluid, and the hero abilities add a layer of tactical depth that keeps matches exciting. The game’s fantasy-meets-guns aesthetic is visually striking, and the maps are designed to encourage fast-paced, strategic combat. Whether you’re capturing the Shieldbreaker artifact or defending your base, the adrenaline rush of a well-executed raid is unmatched.

However, the game’s simplicity is both its strength and its weakness. With only one game mode—Raid battles—Highguard lacks the variety that keeps players coming back for more. The absence of health pickups, ammo crates, and weapon attachments makes looting feel less rewarding, and the predictable map layouts and hero picks lead to a sense of déjà vu after just a few matches.

The Wardens: Heroes of the Battlefield

Highguard launches with eight Wardens, each with unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle. Kai’s ice walls and Una’s grenade-lobbing wisps are fan favorites, but other heroes feel underutilized due to situational powers. The lack of balance between Wardens is a glaring issue that needs addressing if the game is to maintain a competitive edge.

The Guns: A Mixed Bag

The weapon selection in Highguard is solid, with assault rifles, revolvers, and sniper rifles standing out as reliable choices. However, close-quarters weapons like shotguns and SMGs fall short, either due to slow time-to-kill or being outclassed by similar weapons. With only two weapon slots available, players must choose wisely, but the lack of variety in loot makes these decisions feel less impactful.

The Maps: Familiar but Functional

Highguard features five maps at launch, each with its own unique layout but familiar objectives. The maps are quick to traverse, thanks to ziplines and a mount-summoning system reminiscent of Elden Ring. However, the lack of randomness in loot spawns and objectives makes each match feel predictable, robbing the game of the excitement that comes with discovering new strategies and loadouts.

The Future: Hope on the Horizon

Despite its flaws, Highguard has the potential to become a standout title in the competitive shooter genre. Wildcard Entertainment has promised a year of Episodes, with new Wardens, weapons, maps, and cosmetics set to release every other month. The developers’ willingness to experiment and make changes—such as the introduction of 5v5 mode and adjustments to raid rounds—shows a commitment to improving the game.

Should You Play Highguard?

Play it if:

• You’re a fan of squad-based shooters with tactical depth.
• You enjoy fast-paced, objective-driven gameplay.
• You’re excited about the potential for future updates and content.

Don’t play it if:

• You’re looking for a game with a wide variety of modes and maps.
• You prefer loot-driven shooters with unpredictable gameplay.
• You’re not a fan of repetitive gameplay loops.

Accessibility and Performance

Highguard offers a handful of accessibility features, including subtitles and support for ten languages. Visually, the game allows for customization, with options to turn off motion blur, adjust the FOV slider, and tweak effects quality. Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly on mid-range hardware, making it accessible to a wide range of players.

Final Thoughts

Highguard is a game with immense potential, but it’s not quite ready to dethrone Apex Legends just yet. Its core gameplay is solid, but the lack of variety and balance issues hold it back from greatness. With a year of updates ahead, there’s hope that Highguard will evolve into the gem it has the potential to be. For now, it’s a shooter worth trying, especially if you’re a fan of the genre, but it’s not quite a must-play.

Tags: #Highguard #ApexLegends #WildcardEntertainment #Shooter #Gaming #Review #TechRadar #CompetitiveGaming #RaidBattles #Wardens #Gunplay #Gameplay #Updates #FutureContent

Viral Sentences:

• “Highguard is a diamond in the rough—brilliant in its core mechanics but marred by repetitive gameplay.”
• “The gunplay is crisp, the movement is fluid, and the hero abilities add a layer of tactical depth.”
• “Wildcard Entertainment’s willingness to experiment and make changes shows a commitment to improving the game.”
• “Highguard has the potential to become a standout title in the competitive shooter genre.”
• “For now, it’s a shooter worth trying, especially if you’re a fan of the genre, but it’s not quite a must-play.”

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